Fatal Reckoning (Fatal #14)(6)
“Please send him in.”
“Right away, ma’am. And may I express my condolences for your loss?”
“Thank you.” From her father’s front porch, she waved to Darren so he’d know where to go. As he came up the ramp, Sam realized they didn’t need the ramp anymore. Not here or at her house. The thought hit her like a punch, rendering her temporarily breathless.
Darren came to a stop a foot from her. “Am I allowed to hug you?”
She forced herself to breathe, to keep pressing forward, to do what needed to be done. “I suppose I could tolerate that for a second or two.”
He gave her an awkward hug and patted her on the back. “I’m really sorry, Sam.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “That’s enough.”
Darren stepped back and took an assessing look at her, his brown eyes sharp and warm at the same time. His light brown hair was a mess, as if he hadn’t taken the time to brush it before running out the door. “How’re you holding up?”
“I’m surprisingly okay, for now anyway. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
“Had he been ill?”
“Nothing more than the obvious complications of life as a quad. But in the last few months, he’d gotten very frail. Four years in his condition is actually a long time.”
“Do you mind if I take notes?”
“Not at all.” She gestured for him to have a seat and lowered herself into a chair across from him, only realizing when she was seated that her legs were trembling. It never came naturally for her to unload on a reporter, but Darren had earned her trust and respect over the years, and she was counting on him to do right by her dad. Not to mention his death was an opportunity to remind the public that his shooting remained unsolved.
“How old was he?”
“Sixty-four. Make sure you refer to him by his title, deputy chief, and that he was egregiously injured in the line of duty three months prior to retirement.” She recited the date of the shooting, which was a date that had divided her life into “before” and “after.”
“And the case remains open, correct?”
“Yes, and I firmly believe someone out there knows what happened to my father. I would hope that anyone with information pertaining to his shooting on G Street would come forward to ensure that justice is done on behalf of a decorated police officer who devoted his entire adult life to ensuring the safety of our city and its citizens.” She gave him the number for the Metro PD tip line. “This is now a homicide investigation, and no piece of information is too small. If you know something, report it.”
“Talk to me about what he meant to you personally.”
Sam huffed out an ironic laugh. “What did he mean to me… Well, he was the best father anyone could ever hope to have. And he was an outstanding police officer, respected by everyone who ever worked with or for him. He was a frequent contributor to cases investigated by my squad. He recently consulted on the Beauclair case, offering wisdom and insight. His mind was as sharp as ever, and he frequently homed in on things the rest of us had missed. In many ways, he was my best friend.”
“Was Skip his real name?”
“It was Charles, but he never went by that.”
Darren took detailed notes. “Talk to me about the family members who should be listed.”
Sam recited the names of her stepmother, sisters, brothers-in-law, son, nieces and nephews, as well as a devoted cadre of friends, many of them fellow MPD officers. “He would also want his former wife, Brenda Ross, to be mentioned.” Despite the acrimonious end to their marriage, Skip never forgot that Brenda had given him three beautiful daughters and afforded her the respect she deserved as the mother of his children.
“I’d like to use the quote you gave me on the phone about taking comfort from him being free. Would that be all right?”
Sam nodded. Perhaps the thought would bring comfort to others who’d loved him.
“Here’s what I’m thinking. Tell me if you approve.
“Retired Metro Police Deputy Chief Charles ‘Skip’ Holland, 64, passed away in his sleep on Sunday, nearly four years after being shot in a traffic altercation on G Street. The incident occurred three months before he was due to retire after thirty-two years on the force. Holland, who was left a quadriplegic in the shooting, had contended with a number of health challenges in recent years, but continued to actively consult on cases led by his daughter, Metro PD Homicide Lieutenant Sam Holland. Lieutenant Holland is the wife of Vice President Nick Cappuano, who was out of the country at the time of his father-in-law’s passing. The vice president is due home Sunday evening from a weeklong diplomatic trip to Europe.
“‘We’re taking comfort in the thought of him being set free from the difficult reality of his life over the last four years,’ Lieutenant Holland said shortly after her father’s death.
“Deputy Chief Holland is also survived by Celia, his beloved wife and devoted caretaker, as well as daughters Tracy Hogan and her husband, Mike, and Angela Radcliffe and her husband, Spencer, as well as six grandchildren: Brooke, Abby and Ethan Hogan, Jack and Ella Radcliffe, and Scott Cappuano. He leaves his former wife, Brenda Ross, his brothers and sisters in blue in the Metro Police Department and many faithful friends. Deputy Chief Holland will be given a police funeral with full honors on a date to be named shortly.